Tag:
What Is Auditory Bilateral Stimulation?
Short Answer: Auditory bilateral stimulation is a form of stimulation used during Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) in which sounds alternate from one side to the other, usually between the left and right ears. For example, you might hear a tone in the left ear, then the right ear, repeating back and forth while you briefly focus on a memory, thought, feeling, or body sensation. It is an alternative to visual eye movements or tactile stimulation such as tapping. Auditory bilateral stimulation is a recognized part of EMDR, although research does not show that every form of bilateral stimulation works in exactly the same way.
Key Takeaways
- Auditory bilateral stimulation uses sounds that alternate between the left and right sides.
- It is commonly delivered through headphones or another setup that can separate sound between the ears.
- It can be used instead of visual eye movements or tactile stimulation such as tapping.
- During EMDR, the sounds are used while you also briefly focus on a memory, thought, feeling, or sensation.
- You do not need to visually track anything when using auditory stimulation.
- Auditory stimulation is a recognized EMDR method, but it should not be assumed to work identically to eye movements.
What Does “Auditory Bilateral Stimulation” Mean?
The phrase can be broken into two parts.
Auditory means related to hearing.
Bilateral means involving two sides.
In auditory bilateral stimulation, sounds alternate between the left and right sides. A simple pattern might be:
Left → right → left → right
The sounds may be tones, beeps, or other neutral audio cues.
The EMDR International Association describes bilateral stimulation as alternating side-to-side eye movements and/or alternating auditory or tactile stimulation.
How Is Auditory Bilateral Stimulation Used During EMDR?
During the reprocessing parts of EMDR, you usually bring a particular memory, image, thought, emotion, or body sensation to mind.
At the same time, you listen to alternating sounds for a brief set.
A simplified example might look like this:
- Bring the memory or other focus to mind.
- Listen as the sound alternates between the left and right ears.
- Pause after the set.
- Notice what thoughts, images, emotions, memories, or sensations are present.
- Continue with another set.
The alternating sound acts as the external attention task while part of your attention remains on the material you are processing.
Do You Need Headphones?
Headphones are a common way to deliver auditory bilateral stimulation because they make it easy to send sound separately to the left and right ears.
For example, one tone can play in the left ear and the next in the right.
The essential feature is not the headphones themselves. It is the ability to create a clear alternating auditory pattern between the two sides.
In online EMDR, alternating tones can also be generated digitally, making auditory stimulation practical even when the therapist and client are not in the same room.
What Does Auditory Bilateral Stimulation Sound Like?
The sound is usually simple.
It might be:
- A soft beep
- A neutral tone
- A click
- Another brief sound that alternates between sides
The purpose is generally not to create music or tell a story through the sound.
The sound gives your attention another task while you continue focusing on the material being processed.
The exact tone, volume, and pace can vary depending on the method or program being used.
Is Auditory Bilateral Stimulation the Same as Binaural Beats?
No.
These terms are sometimes confused because both involve headphones and sound presented to the ears.
Auditory bilateral stimulation usually refers to sounds that alternate from one ear to the other as part of EMDR or another bilateral stimulation exercise.
Binaural beats usually involve presenting slightly different frequencies simultaneously to the two ears, which creates the perception of an additional rhythmic beat.
They are different techniques.
In EMDR, auditory bilateral stimulation generally involves a clear alternating left-right pattern rather than the binaural-beat effect.
Why Does EMDR Use Alternating Sounds?
Alternating sounds provide another way to create the dual-attention task used during EMDR.
While listening to the tones, you are also paying attention to the memory or other material you are working on.
Researchers are still studying exactly how bilateral stimulation contributes to EMDR.
One leading explanation involves working memory. Recalling a vivid memory uses limited mental resources. Performing another task at the same time can compete for some of those resources.
Research has found that alternating beeps can place demands on working memory and can reduce the vividness of negative memories in experimental settings, although eye movements produced larger effects in one direct comparison.
This is one reason it is better to say auditory stimulation is an available EMDR method rather than claim that it works exactly the same way as eye movements.
Is Auditory Bilateral Stimulation as Effective as Eye Movements?
Research does not support a simple statement that they are always equally effective.
One experimental study directly compared eye movements with alternating beeps. Both reduced the vividness of negative memories, but eye movements taxed working memory more strongly and produced larger effects in that experiment.
A later clinical study also reported stronger outcomes for eye movements than tones under the conditions tested.
That does not mean auditory stimulation has no role in EMDR.
EMDR training standards continue to recognize tones, taps, and eye movements as forms of bilateral dual-attention stimulation.
The more accurate conclusion is that different forms of stimulation are used, but they should not automatically be treated as scientifically identical.
Why Might Someone Use Sounds Instead of Eye Movements?
There are several practical reasons.
Someone may find alternating sounds easier to follow than a moving visual target.
Auditory stimulation may also be convenient when:
- Visual tracking is uncomfortable or distracting
- The person prefers to keep their eyes closed
- The session is taking place online
- A practitioner wants to change the form of bilateral stimulation
EMDR training standards specifically recognize circumstances in which alternatives to eye movements may be appropriate.
Switching methods does not necessarily mean anything has gone wrong. It can simply be an adjustment to how the stimulation is delivered.
Auditory stimulation may also be useful to explore when EMDR is being used for anxiety, especially if visual tracking feels distracting.
Can You Use Auditory Bilateral Stimulation With Your Eyes Closed?
Yes.
Because the stimulation is delivered through hearing rather than vision, you do not need to visually track anything.
That means auditory stimulation can be used while your eyes are closed if that fits the session.
This differs from visual bilateral stimulation, where you need to see the moving target in order to follow it.
Can the Speed of the Sounds Change?
Yes.
The sounds can alternate more quickly or more slowly.
There is no single universal speed that everyone must use.
The pace may be adjusted depending on the person, the part of the session, and how easily the stimulation can be followed.
As with visual bilateral stimulation, the goal is not simply to make the stimulation as fast as possible. It needs to remain usable while you stay engaged with the material you are processing.
Does the Sound Have to Alternate Left and Right?
Traditional auditory bilateral stimulation usually does.
The alternating left-right pattern is what makes it bilateral stimulation in the usual EMDR sense.
Researchers have also investigated how different patterns of auditory and tactile stimulation affect processing, including alternating and simultaneous forms.
That research reflects an important point: scientists are still studying which characteristics of bilateral stimulation are most important.
Is Auditory Bilateral Stimulation the Whole EMDR Process?
No.
Listening to alternating sounds by itself is not the same as completing EMDR.
EMDR is a structured process that includes several phases and can involve:
- Identifying what you want to work on
- Noticing thoughts, beliefs, emotions, images, and body sensations
- Using bilateral stimulation in sets
- Pausing between sets
- Noticing what changes
- Continuing the processing
The EMDR International Association describes EMDR as an eight-phase treatment that incorporates alternating visual, auditory, or tactile stimulation within a larger structured process.
Auditory bilateral stimulation is therefore one component of EMDR, not the entire method.
The same structured EMDR process can also be used when working with experiences related to PTSD.
Auditory Stimulation in Online and Self-Guided EMDR
Auditory stimulation is particularly suited to digital delivery because alternating tones can be generated through software.
With the Virtual EMDR self-guided program, users can select and adjust available bilateral stimulation settings themselves.
This is one example of how EMDR can be adapted to an online, self-guided format rather than assuming that bilateral stimulation must always involve a therapist physically moving a hand in front of you.
The broader principle remains the same: bilateral stimulation can be visual, auditory, or tactile.
Conclusion
Auditory bilateral stimulation uses sounds that alternate between the left and right sides while you focus on a memory, thought, emotion, image, or body sensation.
It provides an auditory alternative to eye movements and tactile methods such as tapping.
The sounds are typically delivered in a repeating left-right pattern, often through headphones, and can be used in therapist-guided, online, or self-guided EMDR.
Research suggests that auditory stimulation can affect attention and memory, but it should not be assumed to work exactly the same way or produce exactly the same effects as eye movements.
The simplest way to understand it is this: instead of following bilateral stimulation with your eyes or feeling it through touch, you follow it through hearing.
View Comments